Level 1

The start of the yoga sutras grabs our attention and appeals to our sense of urgency. Now is the time to start to calm and quiet the mind. These first three sutras set the intention for the rest of the book.

Patanjali starts with a clear description of what yoga is and what happens when we practice yoga.  The third sutra also begins the important process of self-inquiry which will lead to an appreciation of our true nature.

Chapter two begins with a description of Kriya yoga, the yoga of action. An active path for us to engage with, in order to move closer to yoga. Patanjali suggests three practices and how we practice them: discipline, study, and surrender into the unknown.

One of the reasons the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali continue to resonate is because they ask questions which continue to be relevant. These two sutras come back to the essential essence of the purpose of yoga.

Why do we practice? To avoid future suffering. What causes suffering? Confusion between what is real and what is not.

Patanjali has different methods for calming the mind and different paths to suit each individual. In this sutra, we get a description of classical ashtanga yoga (eight limbs). These are the eight parts which make up a full yoga practice. Each part or limb requires sustained practice, this sutra lists the limbs, the interpretation offers a little description of each limb and how to practice them.

These subsequent sutras expand in detail on the first limb of ashtanga yoga; explaining and describing the yamas, the universal principles about how we can interact in the universe in such a way as to promote yoga. Each Yama is discussed briefly and suggestions about how we can apply them to our everyday lives are made. In sutra 31 Patanjali emphasizes the importance of this first limb.

Considering that yoga is now mainly thought of as a physical practice it is interesting that Patanjali has only one sutra which mentions asana (the postures or shapes that we make in the physical discipline of yoga).

In this short teaching, Patanjali suggests that asana should have the dual qualities of strength and ease.

Chapter three of the yoga sutras of Patanjali moves into more cerebral practices. In this first sutra of Vibhuti pada, there is an exploration of how Patanjali describes concentration (the sixth limb of the ashtanga system).

Concentration is the preliminary practice for meditation. Mediation will evolve naturally out of a sustained practice of concentration.

As well as an interpretation of this sutra a short practice of concentration is offered which will be of particular use for anyone trying to develop a meditation practice.

Chapter four of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali dives deeper into the philosophical implications of living a yogic life. This sutra occurs about halfway through the Kaivalya pada and it asks us to consider the nature of perception, how we all see the world from different perspectives.

Las manos y los pies son partes del cuerpo fundamentales en la práctica de yoga. En muchas ocasiones son la base de la postura. Por ello, es muy importante tener en cuenta su posición; una mala colocación de las manos y de los pies puede dar lugar a lesiones en muñecas, codos, hombros, tobillos, rodillas, caderas.